Tool



United States atent TOOL Lyle L. Ames, Racine, Wis., assignor to Walker Manufacturing Company of Wisconsin, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin l N A I Application July* 31, 1958, Serial No. 752,305 Claims. (Cl. Sil- 101) This invention Vrelates to tools, and more particularly to devices for cutting pipes such as exhaust pipes which are secured to automotive mufllers.

l:In the removal of exhaust` pipes from muiliers, as well as in other pipe cutting applications, it is highly desirable tohave a cuttingdevice which may be quickly and easily applied to the pipe without having to pass the cutting device over the pipe end, and the Yoperation must often be accomplished within a limited access space and with the operator in an awkward position which limits his armmovements. p

Y It is an object of the present invention to. provide a novel andA improved pipe cutter which is especially. adapted for use where there is a lack of working room, andin which the cutting may be quickly accomplished using a minimum amount of arm movements.

-It is another object to provide an improved pipe cutting device of this character which may be quickly and easily applied to a pipe with a minimum amount of access space and without the necessity of passing the tool over the pipe end.

`It is a further object to provide an improvedpipe cutting apparatus having the above characteristics, ywhich includes novel means for maintaining accurate alignment between a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutters, thus-insuring high cutting eiciency for the device.

It is another object to provide an improved pipe cutting device of this character which is easily adjustable for various pipe diameters and which atall times utilizes its cutting elements with maximum effect.

-It is also an object to provide an improved pipe cutting device of this nature which is economical to fabricate, uses relatively few parts and is sturdy in use.

`Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Y

In the drawings:

-Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved pipe cutting apparatus of this invention, showing the parts in pipe cutting position;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l and showing the manner in which the cutters are supported by theside plates;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view takenv along the line |3-3 of Figure l and showing the manner in which the handle rod and release rod are retained in position; and

Figure 4is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the cutting device in open position.

-In general terms, the invention comprises a cutting device having a pair of jaws supported by a handle rod and adjustable toward and away from each other, these jaws being adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of apipe being cut. Each jaw carries a plurality of cutters, these cutters being circular in shape and having cutting edges which will engage the pipe in a single circumfer ential line. A handle is provided for rocking the jaws around the pipe through a suicient are to insure a complete circumferential cut, and this handle also is provided with means for adjusting the jaws toward and away from each other by`handlerotation. The opposite ends ofthe jaws are releasably connectible by a rod the end of which carries a thumb nut, this nut being threadably mounted on the rod so that proper spacing of the jaws is maintained. To apply the cutting device to a pipe, the release rod carrying the thumb nut may be swung away from one of the jaws, being pivoted on the other jaw, so that the jaws may be swung apart and placed over the pipe. The release rod is then swung into position, and the thumb nut and handle rotated to properly adjust the jaws, after which oscillation of the jaws by the handle together with gradual tightening ofthe handle will achieve a quick and accurate cut.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the cutting device is generally indicated at 11 and comprises a pair of jaws generally indicated at 12 and 13 respectively. Each of these jaws comprises a pair of side plates, the side plates for jaw 12 being indicated at 14 and those for jaw 13 being indicated at 15. Side plates 14 and 15 may be` of identical shape for production purposes, the plates being of generally rectangular shape and having recesses 16 for clearance purposes. Each set of side plates are in spaced parallel relation, being secured together by rivets or other fastening means 17 which pass through spacers 1S. Each jaw carries a pair of spaced cutters 19 on parallel axes, these cutters having circular cutting blades 21 and flat surfaces 22 on opposite sides of the cutting blades for purposes to be hereinafter de- 14 of jaw 12.

scribed. Cutters 19 may be supported by pins23 which pass through the jaw side plates and are removably 'secured in position .by cotter pins 24, as seen best in Figure 2. Cutters 19 are located -adjacent opposite ends of recesses 16 and are so arrangedthat cutting blades 21 as well as surfaces 22` will projectbeyond the side plate edges. The opposite sides 25 of each cutter 19 are flatso as to bear against side plates 14and 15. respectively, spacers 1S being of suicient length to-in-` sure proper rotatability of the cutters while preventin substantial lateral movement.

A rod 26, referred to asa handle rod, is pivotally se cured by a rivet 27 or similar fastening means between side plates 15 of jaw 13, as seen best in Figures `1 and 2. Handle rod'V26 extends through side plates 14 of jaw 12, as seen in Figure 3, being retained between side plates 14 by a spacer 18 and a rivet 28 which pass through the sideplates, thus permitting limited rocking movement of, jaw 12 with respect to the handle rod. The diameter of rod 26 is such as to prevent substantial relative lateral movement between the corresponding ends of jaws 12 and 13. Handle rod 26 projects beyond jaw 12, the outer` portion 29 thereof being threaded, as indicated in Figure l. An internally threaded tubular member 3l. is mounted on threaded portion 29, and a tubular handle 32 issecured.

to the outer end of member L31 by a rivet 33. Handle 32, which may be knurled as indicatedin Figure l, is of larger diameter than member 31 and is disposedthereover, one end 34 of handle 32 abutting edges 35 of side plates 14 which constitute jaw 12. It will thus be seen that by rotating handle 32 in one direction, jaw 12 may be forced toward jaw 13 along handle rod 26, while rotation of handle 32 in the oppositeA direction will permit jaw 12 to move away from jaw 113. The length of handle 32 is preferably suicient-to permit substantial leverage to be exerted on cutting device 11 during operation. i

A release rod 36 is pivotally secured by a rivet 37' externally threaded, and the rod is of suflcient length so that its outer end may be disposed between side plates extension 42 which is threadably mounted on portion 39 A knurled thumb nut 41 has atubular` disposed between side plates 14, as seen in Figure 3. Thumb nut 41 has a radial shoulder 43 adjacent its extension 42, this shoulder being engageable with edges 35 of sideV plates 14 at the ends thereof remote from the ends engaged by surface 34 of handle 32.

In operation, cutting device 11 will initially be in the open position shown in Figure 4. When in this position, release rod 36 will be swung away from jaw 12, and jaw 13 will be swung clockwise from its position shown in Figure 1 so that a pipe such as that indicated at 44 may be engaged by the device. After jaws 12 and 13 have been disposed on opposite sides of pipe 44, release rod 36 will be swung into position between side plates 14 of jaw 12, and both thumb nut 41 and handle 32 tightened until all four cutters 19 will engage the outer diameter of the pipe. It should be noted that the application of cutting device 11 to the pipe will require relatively little access space, and that due to the lengths of threaded portions 29 and 39 of rods 26 and 36 respectively, various sizes of pipes, such as that indicated-by double dot-dash lines at 45 in Figure l, may be accornmodated. After the jaws have been placed in position on the pipe, handle 32 will be rocked in an arc so as to cause cutting edges 21 of cutters 19 to cut the pipe. `At the same time a twisting effort will be exerted on handle 32 urging the jaws toward each other. It should be observed that the connections between the parts are such as to insure evenly distributed cutting pressure at all times during the operation, all four cutters being 'caused to exert cutting pressure on the pipe. The four cutting edges will moreover be maintained in exact alignmentI between the jaws at opposite ends thereof and prevent substantial lateral movement therebetween. i Y

Should one of the cutting edges 21 break through the pipe before the others, surfaces 22 on opposite sides of such cutting edge will engage the pipe, thus maintaining the pressure of the other cutting edges on the pipe. After the pipe has been completely cut, handle 32 and thumb nut 41 may be loosened, thus permitting release rod 36y to be swung outwardly together with jaw 13, so that tool 11 may be removed from the pipe. This action may of course not be necessary should one side of the cut pipebe removed.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodione circular cutter rotatably mounted between each pair..

of side plates, a handle rod pivotally secured between the side plates of one of said jaws adjacent one end thereof and extending through the side plates of said other jaw, means preventing separation of said handle rod from said other jaw, a handle threadably mounted on the outer end of said handle rod and having a surface engageable with said other jaw, whereby rotation of said handle in one direction will cause said jaws to move,

together, a release rod pivoted between the side plates of one of said jaws at the end thereof remote from said handle rod, said release rod being swingable between a` rst position in which it is disposed between the side plates of said other jaw and a second position in which it is spaced from said other jaw, and a nut threadably mounted on the other end of said release rod and having a surface engageable with said other jaw, whereby rota-` tion of said nut will cause the corresponding ends of said jaws to be drawn together.

2. In a pipe cutting device, rst and second jaws, each of said jaws comprising -a pair of spacedv'parallel side plates, a plurality of spacers disposed between each of said pairs of plates, a plurality of circular pipe cutters rotatably mounted on each of said jaws between the side plates thereof, the cutters of said iirst and second jaws being in kfacing relation, a handle rod pivoted between the side `'plates of said first jaw adjacent one end'thereof ndextending between the side plates of said second jaw, means extending between the side plates of said second jaw on opposite sides of said handle rod to prevent separation of the handle rodfrom said second jaw, the diameter of said handle rod in the vicinity of said jaws being only slightly less than the lengths of said spacers, where.

by relative lateral movement between thecorresponding ends of said jaws will be prevented, a threaded portion at the outer end` ofsaid handle rod, a tubular handle threadably mounted on said'threaded portion and having an end surface engageable with said second jaw, whereby rotation of said handle in one direction will cause said jaws to be drawn together, a release rod pivoted between the side plates of said rst jaw at the opposite end thereof, a threaded portion on said release rod, a nut having a portion threaded on said release rod, the release rod being swingable between a first position in which said nut portionv is disposed between the side plates of said second jawvat' the end thereof opposite said handle rod, and a second position in which said nut and release rodare swung away from said second jaw, said nut portion and the portion of said release rod between the side plates of saidirst jaw having a diameter only slightly less than the length of saidfspacers, whereby relative lateral move-v ment "of said opposite ends of the first and second jaws` by virtue of the fact that both rods 26 and 36 extend will be prevented and a Shoulder on Sald nut engageable with said second jaw, whereby rotation of the nut in one direction 'will cause said opposite ends of the 'jaws to be drawn together. Y v

3. The combination 4according to claim 2, the means for mounting said handle on said handle rod comprising a ltubular member having an internal thread mounted on said handleV rod threaded portion, said tubular handle enclosing and being secured to said tubular member.

4. The combination according to claim 2, said means for preventing separation of said handle rod and second jaw comprising one of said spacers and a'pin `disposed o n opposite sides of said handle rod, the positionsof said spacerv and pin being such as to permit limited rocking movement of said second jaw with respect to said handle f' rod.

5. In a pipe cutting device, rst and second jaws, each jaw having apair of spaced parallel side plates, said side plates a'll being of identical rectangular shape having' a pipe clearance recess along one side edge thereof, the

recesses of said jaws being in facing relation, two circular cutters rotatably mounted between each pair of side platesv at the recess corners thereof, a handle rod pivotally secured between the side plates of one of said jaws adjacent one end Ythereof and extending through the side plates of said-'other jaw, lmeans preventing separation of saidV handle rod from said other jaw, a handle threadably mounted on the outer end of said handle rod and having a surface engageable with said other'jaw, whereby rotation of said handle in one direction will cause said jaws to movetogether, al release rod pivoted between 4the side plates 'of one of said jaws at the end thereof remote from said handle rod, said release rod being swingable betweeny a first/position in which it is disposed between the side plates of said other jaw and a second position in which itA is spaced from said other jaw, and a nut threadably mounted on the other end of asid release rod and having a surface engageable with said other jaw, whereby rotation of said nut will cause the corresponding ends of said l jaws to be drawn together. 

